Working as a firefighter with Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) requires flexibility, dedication, and a commitment to serving the community at all times. Due to the nature of emergency response, you will be expected to work a variety of shifts, including days, nights, evenings, weekends, and public holidays.

 

NFRS operates different wholetime duty systems to ensure continuous coverage and meet the needs of the public. These include the 2-2-4 system and the Day Staffing (DS) system, each with its own structure of shifts and rest periods. Upon appointment, you will be informed of your assigned shift pattern and initial station placement, but you may be required to work under any of the duty systems throughout your career.

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• You will be required to work day shifts, night shifts, evenings, weekends and public holidays. NFRS operate the following wholetime duty systems to meet the needs of our communities. 
   

• 2-2-4 – Employees working this system will work two day shifts (08:00-18:00) followed by two night shifts (18:00-08:00) followed by four days off (known as rota days). 
   

• Day Staffing (DS) – employees working this system typically work four day shifts (08:00-18:00) for four consecutive days, during the evenings you will be ‘on call’. After your four shifts you will then have four days off (known as rota days). 
   

• You will be informed of your shift pattern upon appointment and will also be advised which station you will be initially based at following your training course. Please note that you may be required to work any of the above duty systems during your career with Northumberland Fire and Rescue.